Nutcracker - Again!

The children are doing the Nutcracker again. It is so much fun to watch them. Caleb is the actually nutcracker and prince again (this makes 3 years in a row). Eli is Fritz, the younger brother to Clara (the girl who gets the nutcracker doll), and he is also the rat king. This means that Caleb and Eli get to sword fight on stage. Caleb will have to stab Eli and kill him. They will love that part.

Emily gets to be a candy cane this year, and she is also in the party scene. This should be fun because she has watched her brothers in this scene for two years now. Claire will be a gingerbread cookie again, and hopefully she will be able to do her whole dance. Last year, one little girl was sad, so the rest of the girls stood there and waited for her to join the dance. I think they finally decided to go on without her. Bridget does a great job with the choreography, and it is slightly different every year. I am excited to see it.

This means that they practice their group dances in their regularly scheduled dance classes, and then they have their extra practices on Saturday. Needless to say, we spend a lot of time at the dance studio.

Preschool Computer

On Thursday, I was able to go to a luncheon and training because our preschool applied for a new computer. We were fortunate to be able to get one. It is a Young Explorer computer system. It is a grant through Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation and IBM. As part of the training, I was able to play with the software, and it was a lot of fun. I am so excited to be able to bring one to our preschool (I was supposed to bring it home with me on Thursday, but they didn't make it - parts weren't quite ready).

It was a great experience to be able to meet some of the wonderful people who made this possible.

Saved from my Stupidity

One day, I was called to go and pick Caleb up from school. He is playing the cello, and his cello had to be sent in to repair the bridge. Caleb would be bring home another cello to borrow until his came back. So, when I got to the school, I left my friend in the car with her son and Claire. The keys were in the ignition so that they could listen to the music. I didn't remember that the lights were on. Well, I was inside the school for a little longer than I expected, and when I came out... the car was dead. It would not even turn over. I didn't even have jumper cables in my van either. We called my friend's husband - no cables. We asked the man who came out of the building and go into the car right next to us - no cables. I finally called my friend, who told me about three months earlier that I should get jumper cables in my car and that she carries two sets in case she can't get close enough for one set (she was at my house teaching the cub scouts about cars). Well, she laughed at me, and then she came right over to rescue me. As a gift, she gave me one of the sets of jumper cables she had in her car. Since Brett doesn't have cables in his car, I didn't bother to call him, but I know what he will be getting for Christmas.)

Just a Test

This is an editted version. Thanks for catching the misspellings.

A Child's Perspective - Caleb

1. What is something mom always says to you?

How was school?

2. What makes mom happy?

A clean house.

3. What makes mom sad?

disobedience

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

Um, stupidity?

5. What was your mom like as a child?

NO CLUE!

6. How old is your mom?

36

7. How tall is your mom?

Guessing about 5'4"

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

You don't really have a favorite thing to do.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

I'm not there, how am I supposed to know?

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

Um - Preschool

11. What is your mom really good at?

Reading

12. What is your mom not very good at?

Let me see, how can I word this? Copying dance moves.

13. What does your mom do for her job?

You teach preschool, and you're the director.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

You don't have one.

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

How you help me with my school work.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Jerry in Tom and Jerry

17. What do you and your mom do together?

Umm - Drive in the car.

18. How are you and your mom the same?

We both have hair.

19. How are you and your mom different?

You're a girl and I'm a boy.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

Because the things you do for me.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

Umm - I don't know!

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

Do you have a favorite place to go?

A Child's Perspective - Eli

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Clean up stuff
2. What makes mom happy?
Chocolate
3. What makes mom sad?
Hmmm, that just makes her mad, HEY!, you're gunna write down what I think. Stop it. O.k. Ummm... When dad doesn't kiss you when he leaves.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
By showing me funny pictures
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Little
6. How old is your mom?
I think thirty-four
7. How tall is your mom?
About five-three, well, I think that
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Sleep
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Well Claire's around so, she, you eat and mostly just be on the computer
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
I don't know... Ummm... this one is hard, I don't know.
11. What is your mom really good at?
Working at dance on the computer, which I don't like.
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Not yelling when she gets mad
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Preschool, work
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Chocolate
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
That she's fun to be around
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Probably the mom on dah, I don't know. Probably Sydney on Jimmy Neutron
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Eat, that's pretty much it.
18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both have... did you like to play outside when you were a child? Fine, we both like to play outside when we were children.
19. How are you and your mom different?
You don't like playing bored games.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
She reads to me at night and she spends time with me
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
His stories that he tells
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
To her bed.

A Child's Perspective - Emily

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Not right now
2. What makes mom happy?
Being good
3. What makes mom sad?
Not listening
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
(shoulder shrug) doing good things
Take two: doing a weird face and being goofy
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Good
6. How old is your mom?
Thirty-six
7. How tall is your mom?
That's uh, (hmmmph), you're writing all that stuff down? Erase that. (fake cries) Five inches tall (laugh, laugh, giggle)
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Yell at us
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Go to preschool
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Playing the guitar (air guitar) and being a singer (hand held like a microphone "I love you baby!")
11. What is your mom really good at?
Yelling at us
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Saying good job - you're mad at me
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Work at preschool
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Pizza
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
(Whisper) Can you go back to the laughing one? I have a good one (scrolling back up)
I don't know... helping me?
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Sponge Bob Square Pants
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Ask questions
18. How are you and your mom the same?
Same eyes
19. How are you and your mom different?
You're bigger than me, I'm smaller than you
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
You bring me to the earth
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
You married him
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Hmmm, that's a hard one... preschool? No, no, wait, hold on... (whisper - why are you doing this? You're so weird. You're writing down everything I say) HOME!

A Child's Perspective - Claire

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Listen to you
2. What makes mom happy?
Cuddling you
3. What makes mom sad?
Me not cuddling you
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Telling jokes
5. What was your mom like as a child?
(shoulder shrug) I don't knooow
6. How old is your mom?
I forgot
7. How tall is your mom?
(hands stretched from the floor to as high as she can reach) you're this tall, or maybe this tall (hands stretched from the floor to as high as she can reach with a jump added)
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Got to school
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
I don't know (with a one shoulder shrug)
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Uh? Money?
11. What is your mom really good at?
Umm, school work, oh wait, working on the computer, actually
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Ummm, trying to be happy
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Tell the kids stuff at school
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Onions? Is that your favorite food?
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Mommy, can I paint when I'm done with this? Letting me do what I want to, like watch T.V.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
I don't know
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Cuddle
18. How are you and your mom the same?
(shrug of the shoulders) I don't know. We both go to school
19. How are you and your mom different?
Ummm, (one shoulder shrug and then the other one added) Our hair (hers is down & mine is in a pony tail)
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Because I'm cute
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
I don't know. Actually, I think I do know... him letting you sleep with him
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Uh, in the office, because you always do this, you always go in this. I really know this is your favorite place to go, because this, you always go.

As a Child

Today everyone went to school. Caleb stayed home with a cold on Friday, but he was back at it today. I am amazed at how going to preschool and working with the children who are not judgemental can help to lift my spirits. I wasn't really looking forward to today. I was/am a bit tired, but when I left preschool, I noticed that my spirits were lifted. No wonder we are told to become "as a child." I love my teaching job!

Claire's Fisrt Days of School

On Claire's first day of school, she insisted on wearing her Santa hat. As you can see, she is carrying her sweatshirt, and she is cold outside. She was a trooper this year. She was at the preschool all last week while I was trying to organize everything for the start of school. She and the other teacher's child played really well together. They felt like they owned the place. I am very impressed with how well they are transitioning to being a member of the class and not just the only two there.Our first day was a lot of fun. We actually had orientations on Monday and Thursday, and the first day of school on Tuesday, the first day of school on Wednesday, and the first day of school on Friday (not Claire or me).

The girls were really good about just doing what they were told. During orientations, there were children who didn't want to leave. I think part of it was because our girls were still able to play. This happened a couple of times, so I walked over to the girls and told them it was time to go. They both stood up, took my hands, and walked out of the room with me. No questions asked. It made it much easier for the other children to leave. Once we had to actually get their bags and sweaters and walk almost out the door. They were little troopers.

This is Claire second first day of school. She is with her friend Claire. Thanks Nessa for the picture. The girls are in the same primary class at church and were in the same school class last year, too.

Fishing

The boys had the opportunity to go fishing the week before school started. They had the job of finding worms. We went out back into our garden (we didn't get it planted this year) and started digging. No success. I went out and started digging. No success. Then I started wondering where the worms were. We went to the front yard and started moving the mulch. Success!

Caleb was quick. I would use the shovel, move the dirt (mulch), and uncover the worms. He would quickly grab them. Some of them would try to get into a hole, and he would dig down and grab them. It hurt my back to be hunched over a shovel looking at the ground.

I think the boys had a good time, and they even caught a couple of fish. That always seems to make it better.

PRESCHOOL - a very stressful place

Today at preschool we had circle time when we came inside. One of my little boys sat down cross-legged and put his thumbs and his fingers together, pointing upwards, and took some deep breaths. It looked like he was meditating. Then, the next time we sat down, the same boy sat with his legs straight out in front of him and put his hands to the side with his fingers touching his thumbs. First they were pointing down, and as he took a deep breath, he turned them upward and closed his eyes. I didn't think that anything we did was too strenuous. I guess I am not a preschooler though.

Last, the same little boy bowed to me before he took the sticks out of my hand. I could get used to that. In fact, maybe I will institute it. I will make all of the students bow to me. =D Just kidding.

Tattle Tell Targets Take Two

So, Eli and Emily had shots. I thought that last time Emily was exaggerating about taking her band aids off so that the boys would not hit her. No sooner than we walked in the door, Eli walked by Caleb and showed him the band aids on his arms. Caleb punched one arm. Then Eli turned around and Caleb saw the other one and punched it, too. How mean.

I never did see the band aids on Emily's arms - I guess she knew it would happen to her.

Brett's Surprise Slumber Party

So, since Brett's birthday is close, we were going over to some friend's house for dinner. I got some balloons over there and some streamers, too. I only got them there about ten minutes before Brett got there. Brett would have been there sooner, but I kept him on the phone. He called me as I was walking out of the grocery store, and his computer was already shut down and he was ready to walk out. I kept him talking because he was just going to go to our friend's house.

I didn't let him leave work until I had dropped off the party stuff.

We did dinner, and had stacks, and more snacks, and more stacks. We did birthday cake, and we had more snacks.

All of the children fell asleep on the couches, and the grown-ups stayed up and played game. Brett won our game of Settlers of Catan, and did a victory lap.

After the game we just sat at the table and talked. It was 4:00 a.m. and the grown-up boys went down to watch Monte Python, and we were conviced to spend the night. I went up and fell asleep in the master bedroom, all four of my children were asleep on the couches on the maid floor, and then the grown-up boys were all down on the couch.

In the morning, we finally got out of the house about 11:30 for breakfast. When we finally got home we all took naps - we were tired.

A Five Year-Old Boy

Our visitor has the pallet of a 5 year-old boy. Yesterday we had fish for lunch, and I asked him if he liked fish. He said that he might. Well, the fish was bad - it was cod, and we are not really cod fans. It was rubbery and dry. My family, who normally eat fish, complained about it. Emily and Claire did eat their fish, however, they did have an inch of ketchup on top of it. Our visitor took one bite of fish and then passed it to Claire. After a little while, he said, "I have eaten more fish tonight than I have in the whole seven years of marriage."

We started asking him what type of things he liked. Earlier we talked about it and he told us he had the pallet of a 5 year-old. We asked him about bread, whether he was a wheat bread or a white bread eater. I looked at him, he didn't say anything, but the look on his face said that he is a definitely a white bread eater. I said that and Brett was shocked.

We made omelets for dinner and we called his wife to ask her what was a slight stretch and something that we might be able to push on him but not push him over the edge. She wants him to eat onions.

O.K. for the omelets, we had little bowls with different things in it, onions, peppers, cheddar & pepper jack cheese, and sausage. Our friend just wanted sausage and cheese. Brett & I sauteed some onions & peppers and then we made our omelets. I let our friend have a bite after the onions were cooked and sweet. He didn't really taste them.

He is making dinner tonight for us. We will be having chili - without onions.

A Visitor

We have a vistor staying with us until his house is ready to move into. He will be moving into his house in October. His wife is not here, she is at home waiting until the house is ready.

I took these pictures when we came home from church. He went up to "grandma's room" and called his family. He is on the phone with his son who is eating a very big burrito. Yummy.

We can't wait to meet his family.

This post is for his son. Your daddy loves you!

First Day of School

The first day of school always brings with it some nerves.

Caleb was a little nervous that he would have older students (high school students) on the bus with him, and that they would break his cello. Well, he did end up having high school students on his bus, but his cello survived. He had a great first day. Many new adventures as he walked the halls of the middle school. More freedoms as he was able to walk by himself to his classes. More responsibility as he has to keep track of his own schedule. All in all he had a good day! Emily started a new school, also. After she got dressed I asked her if she was going to wear new clothes, and she told me that she wanted to wear her princess shirt. I guess sometimes we need to be reminded that we are princesses (and princes), and her first day at the elementary school was one of them. When I asked her how her day was, she replied, "BORING!" She did fall down and scrape her knee.
Eli was excited to go to school. He wasn't going to a new school, it was just the same thing as last year. In fact, his class is right across the hall from the one he was in last year. He was excited to see that he didn't have to share his locker with anyone, but he did say that he hoped his class didn't get any new students (he knew which locker they would be assigned to). Eli walked out with old clothes in his hand, and when I asked him if he was going to wear new clothes, his eyes lit up and he ran back into his room to get them.
I was excited to send them off to school. The experiences they will have and the growth they will experience will be fun to watch.

Short Video Clip

Here is Caleb's duet that he did with a girl for competition. Enjoy it!